Chapter 7 - Cardiovascular Drugs

Question 1

What is a syncytium?

Answer 1

an interconnected mass formed from cardiac cells, intercalated disks, and a fusion of cell membranes.

Question 2

what happens during depolarization?

Answer 2

rapid influx of sodium, slower influx of calcium, outflow of potassium.

Question 3

What is the importance of a long refractory period?

Answer 3

prevents a constant state of contraction for cardiac cells.

Question 4

What are chronotropic and inotropic effects in the heart?

Answer 4

Chronotropic - rate of contraction, inotropic - force/strength of contraction.

Question 5

what is preload vs afterload?

Answer 5

preload - volume of blood in ventricles at the end of diastole (amount of blood that must be pumped out)
afterload - resistance in the arteries that the ventricle must overcome to pump blood.

Question 6

What are the four basic compensatory mechanisms of the cardio system?

Answer 6

1. increase heartrate
2. increase stroke volume
3. increase efficiency of heart muscle.
4. heart enlargement.

Question 7

5 objectives of treatment for heart failure

Answer 7

1. control rhythm disturbances
2. maintain or increase cardiac output
3. relieve fluid accumulations
4. increase oxygenation of blood.
5. provide oxygen/sedatives.

Question 8

4 beneficial effects and one potential toxic effect of glycosides.

Answer 8

beneficial:

1. improved cardiac contracility
2. decreased heart rate
3. antiarrhythmic effect
4. decreased signs of dyspnea

Toxic: vomiting

Question 9

catecholamines (ie epinephrine) are used primarily for:

Answer 9

stimulation of cardiac contraction during arrest.

Question 10

five risk factors for arrhythmias:

Answer 10

1. conditions that cause hypoxia.
2. electrolye imbalances
3. increased levels or sensitivity to catecholamines
4. certain drugs such as digitalis and barbiturates
5. cardiac trauma or disease.

Question 11

6 categories of antiarrhythmic drugs and an example of each

Answer 11

1. class 1A (ie quinidine)
2. class 1B (ie lidocaine)
3. class 1C (Ie flecainide)
4. Class 2 (ie propranolol)
5. Class 3 (ie Bretylium)
6. Class 4 (ie diltiazem)

Question 12

List 4 vasodilator drugs and classify each as arteriolar dilator, venodilator, or both.

Answer 12

1. hydralazine - arteriolar
2. nitroglycerin - venodilator
3. prazosin - combined
4. enalapril - combined

Question 13

Why is lasix sometimes called a loop diuretic?

Answer 13

It inhibits reabsorption of sodium in the loops of henle

Question 14

What is the risk of using many diuretics?

Answer 14

A dangerous loss of potassium

Question 15

5 ancillary methods of treatment for cardio disease

Answer 15

1. Bronchodilation
2. Oxygen therapy
3. Sedation
4. Aspiration
5. Centesis

Question 16

What is cardiac output?

Answer 16

The amount of blood that the heart is capable of pumping per minute.

Question 17

____ is when the pumping ability of the heart is impaired to where sodium and water are retained in an effort to compensate for inadequate cardiac output

Answer 17

Congestive heart failure.

Question 18

ACE causes conversion of _____ to ____

Answer 18

Angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2

Question 19

What 5 precautions should be taken when applying nitroglycerin?

Answer 19

• wear gloves
• rotate application sites
• do not pet at application site
• measure dosage in inches
• contact vet if rash appears

Question 20

What diuretic is used most commonly to treat heart failure?

Answer 20

Lasix

Question 21

Hypokalemia

Answer 21

Abnormally low potassium in blood

Question 22

What are the primary goals of the dietary management of heart disease?

Answer 22

1) sodium restriction

2) maintenance of good body condition

Question 23

3 effects of administration of catecholamines

Answer 23

1) increased force of contraction
2) increase in blood pressure
3) elevated blood glucose levels

Question 24

____ is a faster-than-normal heart rate

Answer 24

Tachycardia

Question 25

what occurs due to abnormalities of the conduction system?

Answer 25

arrhythmia

Question 26

what are 3 things associated with congestive heart failure?

Answer 26

exercise intolerance, pulmonary edema, ascites.

Question 27

What kind of drug is digitalis?

Answer 27

cardiac glycoside

Question 28

Quinidine doses must be ___ in patients being treated with digoxin.

Answer 28

Decreased

Question 29

concurrent use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatories may ___ the effectiveness of captopril

Answer 29

Decrease

Question 30

What is one potential side effect of furosemide?

Answer 30

Hypokalemia